ABSTRACT
Anemia occurring during cancer, especially in colorectal adenocarcinoma, may be the result of several causes in particular: chronic disease, chemo-=radiotherapy, and blood loss. In last years, anemia has been recognized as commonly associated with cancer. Moreover randomized, controlled clinical trials and large cohort studies have demonstrated that increased hemoglobin levels are linked with increased quality of life (1-4). Quite extensive literature, more or less individual studies, has been published documenting that anemia is a prognostic factor in lung, cervix, head and neck, and prostate
(5-10). According to a meta-analysis (9), the overall adjusted relative risk for death in patients with anemia increased 1.6-fold (95% CI: 1.54-1.77) when compared with patients presenting regular hemoglobin levels at time of diagnosis. In sum, one-third of patients were diagnosed anemic. With regard to therapy, some authors have suggested that maintenance of hemoglobin levels during chemo-and=or radiotherapy may improve effectiveness of the procedure accordingly (5-7,11-15).
